Lungelo Manqele, Captain of the Wartburg Kirchdorf School First X1 Hockey team, will lead her team as current Umvoti, uThukela and Umzinyathi Regional champs onto the astro in the Grand Finals of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge that takes place at St Mary’s DSG, in Durban on July 20 and 21.
The Grade 11 centre link started playing hockey in Grade 2 at Wartburg Kirchdorf. “Most of the girls, I think, started playing in Grade 1 and after seeing their pictures in the year book, I wanted to take part too!” she recalls.
“The thing I enjoy most about hockey is how it’s an adrenaline sport and it’s unpredictable, so this forces you to think fast but also think smart and work with your team.”
Besides hockey, Lungelo also play soccer and does long jump and 100m sprints in athletics. “I’m also interested in running as I have run the annual Wartburg MTB Classic for the third time this year and I ran the Durban SPAR Women’s Challenge (10km) for the first time this year.”
Lungelo played in the team that went to the Grand Finals of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge in 2017. “I remember how we were coming last on the first day, then after a few honest words of encouragement from our coach we managed to take 7th place the next day. It was crystal clear proof of how powerful one’s change of mindset can be – regardless the skill and talent.”
This scenario says so much about the significant guidance she has been given. “All the advice I’ve received basically sums up to the fact that one is confined by the limits they create themselves and you will never really know unless you try – so you’ve got to try whole-heartedly and never give up.”
It’s no wonder then that her sports role model is Ongeziwe Mali “who at a young age (18) has already achieved something as immense as representing South Africa at the 2018 Women’s Hockey World Cup.”
“I would like to encourage young people to do sports,” she says. “Playing hockey has taught me so much when it comes to committing to your fellow players and leading a team whilst also growing individually. I am grateful to my family for the support, and to my coach for all the faith she has in my team and me. I am really proud to be their captain and to share a field with them.
Lungelo sports half colours for academics, a merit certificate for hockey and a merit certificate for athletics, and in 2015 in Grade 7 received the prestigious Good Fellowship Award at her school.
With her sights on studying a BCom Accounting at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Lungelo also finds time to listen to music, jog, read, and write a bit of poetry and spend time with close family and friends.
This steadfast young lady says she lives by the words “that God doesn’t give you anything you cannot handle – everything happens for a reason. I believe that verse from Colossians 23 verse 3: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.”
Wartburg Kirchdorf School joins nine other teams from KZN at the Grand finals including St Anne’s College, Epworth School, Crawford La Lucia, Durban Girls’ College, Amanzimtoti High School, Kokstad College, Ferrum High School, St Mary’s DSG, and Felixton College.
For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page or follow on Instagram.
Interview With Lungelo Manqele from Wartburg Kirchdorf School
